Plant Patch
Taking Stock
At this time of the year things are growing so fast that the garden seems to change in a matter of days . It is worth taking stock of what is happening.
Broadbeans Tip
The broad beans we sowed in November are 2 foot high and covered in flower .At this stage the black aphid is about to colonize the growing points and it is worth breaking off the tips of the plants which will make them less attractive to the aphid and also concentrate the plant’s food into the pods.
Feed The Onions
The over wintered onions are looking great and are kept regularly weeded.At this time of the year when the bulbs are going to start swelling we have applied a light dressing of fertilizer.
Watch Out For A Late Frost
The potatoes planted in March are now showing strong growth above their banks. Keeping them weeded and earthed up will ensure a good crop. I am keeping an eye out for any late frost and I have my fleece ready.
Getting Going
The early plants of salad are all in the ground and growing away fast with the recent wet weather.The runner beans are just sowed in boxes ready to plant in about 2 weeks. The brussel sprouts and leeks are all sown but have not made an appearance as yet . The spring cabbage has all finished and that bed is being prepared for courgettes. Parsnip is such a slow and difficult germinator that I am trying a little trick I read about .This involves sowing the seed in a youghurt pot and mixing it into rooting jell . When the seed germinates squeeze it out along the garden bed.
Feeding Soft Fruit
The strawberries are full of new green leaves and the flowers should be putting in an appearance any day. It is worth at this time giving them a light feed high in potash to ensure good flowering but as soon as the fruit is formed stop feeding or the fruit will be large soft and tasteless.
Gooseberries will be about to flower again a high potash feed will improve the quality of fruit .Keep an eye for sawfly caterpillar and
mildew both of which can devastate the bushes.
I’m out of time and the shrub borders and hanging baskets are calling that’s another story.
Plant Patch 03 May 2005